ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The Department of Natural Resources says it’s meeting a new 150-day target for approving or rejecting permit applications 99.6 percent of the time.

The 150-day benchmark was set by Gov. Mark Dayton a year ago. It also applies to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr says his agency’s performance shows it’s responsive to companies and other entities that require speedy review of their permit requests, while still safeguarding Minnesota’s natural resources. In many cases, DNR staffers were able to decide on permits in less than two weeks.

The DNR says missed the 150-day goal on only three permits during the reporting period – all because of a combination of lack of staff and the state government shutdown last summer – but all three have since been issued.